Bedford Free School
🇬🇧 Official data · 2025Bedford, East of England MK42 9AD · Bedford
#241 of 460 secondary schools in East of England
#2006 of 4,090 nationally
About Bedford Free School
Bedford Free School is a academy secondary located in Bedford, in the Bedford local authority of East of England, England. It caters for Ages 11–16. In 2025 it enrolled 536 students. Academies and free schools are state-funded and free to attend, run by academy trusts rather than the local authority.
Its Success Index (England) is 49.2 out of 100, placing it in the top 50% of secondary schools in England and 241st of 460 ranked secondary schools in East of England. Its strongest component is attainment 8 (57th percentile), and its weakest is grade 5+ in english & maths (38th percentile).
Other published figures: pupils on roll 536; capacity filled 107.2%; grade 4+ english & maths 62.2%; ebacc average points 4.51.
There are 93 schools in Bedford; Bedford Free School ranks 39th of 88 scored schools there.
Success Index (England) breakdown
Each component is a percentile against secondary schools across England.
- KS2: reading, writing & maths expected standard (35%)–
- KS2: higher standard (20%)–
- KS2: reading progress (10%)–
- KS2: maths progress (10%)–
- Progress 8 (20%)–
- Attainment 8 (30%)46.5
- Grade 5+ in English & maths (15%)36.7%
- A level points per entry (10%)–
- Community advantage (fewer pupils on free school meals) (15%)29.5%
The Success Index (England) summarises published data about a school community. It is not a measure of teaching quality. Read the methodology.
Published measures
All figures published for Bedford Free School by the official sources.
- Pupils on roll
- 536
- Number of pupils in the latest school census.
- Free school meals
- 29.5%
- Percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals.
- Capacity filled
- 107.2%
- Pupils on roll as a share of the school's reported capacity.
- Attainment 8
- 46.5
- Average GCSE points across eight subjects.
- Grade 5+ English & maths
- 36.7%
- Share of pupils with a strong pass in both English and maths GCSE.
- Grade 4+ English & maths
- 62.2%
- Share of pupils with a standard pass in both English and maths GCSE.
- EBacc average points
- 4.51
- Average point score across the English Baccalaureate subjects.
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Schools near Bedford Free School
Closest schools by straight-line distance, with their Success Index (England).
Bedford Girls' School
Bedford · Independent all-through · Ages 7–18
843 students · 378 m away
Priory Primary School
Bedford · Local authority primary · Ages 3–11
214 students · 818 m away
Cauldwell School
Bedford · Academy primary · Ages 4–11
415 students · 869 m away
Shackleton Primary School
Bedford · Academy primary · Ages 4–11
487 students · 964 m away
Bedford School
Bedford · Independent all-through · Ages 7–19
994 students · 1.0 km away
Polam School
Bedford · Independent primary · Ages 1–9
99 students · 1.1 km away
Castle Newnham School
Bedford · Academy all-through · Ages 4–16
624 students · 1.2 km away
Livingstone Primary School
Bedford · Local authority primary · Ages 2–11
457 students · 1.4 km away
King's Oak Primary School
Bedford · Local authority primary · Ages 1–11
826 students · 1.5 km away
Queen's Park Academy
Bedford · Academy primary · Ages 2–11
446 students · 1.6 km away
Similar schools
Academy secondary schools in East of England with a comparable Pupils on roll.
The Open Academy
Norwich · Academy secondary · Ages 11–19
529 students
Hewett Academy
Norwich · Academy secondary · Ages 11–16
543 students
Vista Academy Littleport
Ely · Academy secondary · Ages 11–16
547 students
Elstree Screen Arts Academy
Borehamwood · Academy secondary · Ages 14–19
524 students
Fulbrook School
Milton Keynes · Academy secondary · Ages 9–16
551 students
All Saints Academy Dunstable
Dunstable · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
520 students
Frequently asked questions
Is Bedford Free School a good school?
Bedford Free School has a Success Index (England) of 49.2 out of 100 (Top 50% of secondary schools in England) and ranks #241 of 460 in East of England. The index summarises published data about the school community and, where available, attainment; it does not measure teaching quality, so visit the school and ask about support at your child's level.
Where does Bedford Free School rank in East of England?
Bedford Free School ranks #241 of 460 secondary schools in East of England and #2006 of 4,090 nationally on the Success Index (England) (2025 data).
How many students attend Bedford Free School?
Bedford Free School had 536 students in 2025.
Is Bedford Free School a primary school or a secondary school?
Bedford Free School is classified as a secondary covering Ages 11–16. It is a academy school.
What other schools are near Bedford Free School?
There are 10 schools within 15 km of Bedford Free School; they are listed on this page with their Success Index (England) and distance, and can be compared side by side.